SECTION 1. Chapter 128 of the General Laws, as so appearing in the 2016 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following new section:-

Section 116. (a) The Commissioner of Agricultural Resources shall convene a Commission on Livestock Shelter Requirements consisting of 7 members, of which the Commissioner or his designee shall be a member and chair. Additional members shall include: a representative of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a representative of the Animal Rescue League of Massachusetts, a representative of the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association, a representative of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, a representative of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation and a representative of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming organization.

(b) The purpose of the task force shall be to develop standards for the appropriate sheltering of livestock from weather elements.  Said standards shall consider requirements appropriate to the species, age and condition of animals.

(c)The standards shall be published within 18 months of passage of this bill. They shall serve as standards for enforcement by agents of organizations listed in section 57 of chapter 22C of the General Laws, who have been designated as special state police officers under that law. 

(d) The Commission shall reconvene at the request of the Commissioner or any 3 members for the purpose of updating the Livestock Shelter Requirements.